Homemade joystick conversion

[Paul Allwood]

After getting advice from Dan and others here about the best valve setup for my old B7200 I had talked myself into buying a joystick valve for the loader rather than making bits to adapt to the 3 spool valve I've got. The 3 spool valve wasn't the best way to go but I didn't know that when I bought it and the bloke at the local hydraulics shop obviously didn't either.

Well, I couldn't help myself. I had to have a go at making my own joystick bits (maybe it's a disease ?). What's the worst ? If it doesn't work I'll convert the valve back to standard and buy a joystick valve.

Mix in some scribbles, some turning and milling on the lathe, some grinding, drilling and tapping, plasma cutting and welding, and today I ended up with something that I'm pretty happy with. There are some finishing touches and some covers and boots to add tomorrow, but I like how it's turned out.

Play at the end of the handle is about +/- 10 mm up and down (a good part of that is end play in the raise/lower/float spool) and +/- 5 mm sideways, and it feels nice and solid.

The single handle is also in a much easier to use load location than the 2 separate handles were before.

18 May 2026

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Here's the dodgy drawings I had to work with - better have a word to the draftsman.

 

[Kennyd4110]

Very nice! But you hid all the magic from us

 

[Paul Allwood]

Very nice! But you hid all the magic from us

Thanks. I tried getting some pics and videos of the "magic" but it didn't work. I'll have another go tomorrow.

 

[chim]

..................................

Here's the dodgy drawings I had to work with - better have a word to the draftsman.

View attachment 174708

Your projects and attention to detail are in a class above mine BUT we seem to have similar thoughts on drawings. Here are my "detailed drawings" and the completed cab. I did have access to CADD, but sometimes it's easier to just jump in and be flexible

 

[Paul Allwood]

Your projects and attention to detail are in a class above mine BUT we seem to have similar thoughts on drawings. Here are my "detailed drawings" and the completed cab. I did have access to CADD, but sometimes it's easier to just jump in and be flexible

Thanks Chim. You're cab looks great. And your drawing must be good - it obviously worked.

 

[Mrlunchbox]

Dude, do you ever stop???!! ha ha ha Love the fabrication skills! Looks great and I am sure you'll enjoy it alot more.

 

[Paul Allwood]

Dude, do you ever stop???!! ha ha ha Love the fabrication skills! Looks great and I am sure you'll enjoy it alot more.

Haha - I do. What you see is the result of a mad flurry of activity in between periods of struggling to get going. And thanks.

 

[McMXi]

Thanks Chim. You're cab looks great. And your drawing must be good - it obviously worked.

This is what I started with before I tried to make an elephant!

 

[Paul Allwood]

This is what I started with before I tried to make an elephant!

View attachment 174758

Engineer's reply.... Apart from the front view, I note you've used 1st-angle projection. We use 3rd-angle protection in Australia

 

[McMXi]

Engineer's reply.... Apart from the front view, I note you've used 1st-angle projection. We use 3rd-angle protection in Australia

I can't take credit for the drawing. We use 3rd angle projection too!

 

[Paul Allwood]

So today I made a temporary bit that held everything in place that made the insides visible as I couldn't get any decent pics or videos inside the real cover/mount.

Here's a few photos and videos with some explanations - apart from why I did this in the first place, I hope these makes sense.

This is looking at the face of the valve where the spools enter. I made this plate to replace the normal die-cast covers that mount the standard operating levers. The plate holds the retaining washer and sealing o-ring in place in the same way. Apart from the small holes, this plate was all turned on my lathe.



Here it is with the plate in place.



Now with connections to the spools. I used threaded rod here to allow adjustment. Within reason, it allows me to adjust the resting position of the operating handle. I milled the u-shaped bits that fit over the spools on my lathe - I don't have a mill but I do have a milling attachment that sits where the post goes. It's slow but it works.



Here's a view of the bits that combine the two separate spool operations into a single handle.



A bit closer.



From the back.



This shows the top and bottom vertical pivots - bearings rather than a steel pin in a steel hole, plus one on both sides of the moving bits to maintain alignment and rigidity for the whole mechanism.



Did I invent this ? Well not really. I took an old design and I think I improved it. This is not mine, but it's what I based mine on....



Videos next.

 

[Paul Allwood]

Staying with the temporary bit to expose the insides, here are some videos showing the operation of the moving bits.

19 May 2026

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

 

[Paul Allwood]

I was looking through the photos and videos to create the above posts thinking you really have to have the right target audience for this stuff.

My psychiatrist who treats my PTSD is quite a funny bloke with a really quick sense of humour. When we chat he always asks what I've been up to. One time I explained that I've been really enjoying making bits for an old tractor we bought, and looking forward to get out to the shed. Straight away he said "I better write this down, excited about tractors, could be a problem". Luckily he said it with a smile.

 

[JohnDB]

Thanks for showing those pics and videos, they really brought it to life. I tried to figure out how to do something similar a couple of years ago and gave up. You are a clever guy

 

[Kennyd4110]

Superb fabrication and execution @Paul Allwood , thanks for taking the time to do that!

 

[Paul Allwood]

Thanks for showing those pics and videos, they really brought it to life. I tried to figure out how to do something similar a couple of years ago and gave up. You are a clever guy

Thanks John. As I said above, I didn't really invent it, just modified am old idea.

Your profile says you're from New Zealand - we're almost neighbours.

 

[Paul Allwood]

Superb fabrication and execution @Paul Allwood , thanks for taking the time to do that!

Thanks Kenny. It's a pleasure. I enjoy sharing this stuff.